Insulated package



y 1950 L. c. PENNEBAKER 2,507,929

INSULATED PACKAGE Filed June 14, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

15w WWM Patented May 16, 1950 UNI-TED STAT ES PATENT 2,50%929 INSUISA IED PACKAGE Lewis G. Pennebaker, Chattanooga, Tenn as signor to O.- B. Andrews Company, Chattanooga', T'enni, a corporation of Tennessee Application J-une l'ii; 1946-, -Serial Nor676351 6 Claims 1 My invention relates to packages and: more: particularly tolight weight, insulated packages especially adapted to the-shipment of perishables,= such aszfrozen foods and the-like, by air, int-such amanner as to preserve them.

While in the prior art it has been; customary to pack merchandise or'articles',v sensitiveto temperaturechanges, in apl-urality of containersorpackage one within the other, separated by'insulatingmaterial or an, air space, a number of disadvantages and defects in suchpackages have beennoted. No efiective light: weightv spacer or: supporthas beenudeveloped which may be inter posed between the containers, and: whichvwill, at; all times; maintain the necessary clearances-between containers or packages, prevent: relative. movement between inner and outer containers: durin handling or shipment, provide: the requi site strength to properly support the inner] container when heavily packed or when thepackage isgiven abusive treatmentand preserve; the inert-- latingqualities of the space between containers.

If: the clearances between containers: are not; maintained, the insulating qualities of the; package deteriorate and the package loses its preservative' characteristics. When support is not: oifered at the-requisite points or'where theinterfitting-ofthe elementstispoor, the inner containerv or containers may be jostled abouttwithin. the packageduringhandling or shipping, and where they are loadecLsuch jostling about may cause rupture or breakdown of the innercontainer resulting in failure in both the packagin qualities and the insulating qualities of thepackage. Where the spacersarenot sufilciently stronger are improperly positioned or do notsufiiciently' cover the loaded areas, the weight ofthelpacked material may cause rupture breakdown or excessivesagging of the innercontainer o may result. in crushing of the spacer or Where the spaces are too numerous, too thick and too bulky, theywill' alter or destroy the insulating quality ofthespa'ce between the containers.

Applicant, with a knowledge of all of these" defects in'and'objections'to the priorv art; has'for' an object. of his invention; the provision of an" insulated package forthcshipmentor storage of perishables or other articles or'merchandise sen sitive to or afiected by temperature changes;

Applicanthas as another object of his inven' tion; the provision of aheatinsulate-d package with light weight, sturdy spacers which will pro vide a minimum of heat conduction between-the contents of'the package and outer atmosphere; and which will be particularly adapted for shipment-byalr: Q

21 Applicant has as another object of his invention the provision of-an insulated' package having,

inner and-outer containers spaced apart byfillers or suppprts which areso positionedand-which cover such areas of strain and load as-to preventrupture, breakdown or sagging of the inner con-- ta-iner, and which will. obviate collapse of the filler or support.

Applicant has as another object of his. invention the provision of an insulatedpackage of-the typ'ezempolying inner and-outercontainers: spaced?- apart by supports orfillersto provide aspace between the containers for insulating purposes thefillers or supportsbeingrof such a size and? shape and being so positioned as to facilitate quick,-easy and close-fitting of" the parts of'tlie. package so as tovobviate jostling-or shaking about; of the inner container while handling or shipping and to prevent rupture or breakdown of" the package.

Applicantohas asla further objectof his invention; the provision of 4 a lightweight; sturdyinsulated-packagemade from sheet fibrous or othersuitable material, which will offer therequisite strength. while providing. insulating qualities against=transfer of heat between the" inside and the outside thereofv and; which is particularly adapted:fori useeair cargo? transportation of such articles/as perishablesi Applicant has asafurther obj ect' of "his i'nv'ention; the provision of a spacer or filler,,.wliich is; light in weight, stiff andsturdy in construct ii andvwhichwill be positioned in an insulated pack age so asto provideaminimum ofilieattra'nsfer therethrough while being easily adaptable to" a close fit- Withcontainers. it is em lcyedtospace apart.

Applicant has as a further oldjectofhisinven=- tion, the provisiori'ofan insulatedpackage"whitrh' may. be quickly; andeasily'assembled" and "broken down and" whose" elements" fit" closely and a'cc'u rately' togetheri'to' providea: compact structure:

Applicant has as a still further object of his invention; the provision of an insuiat'ed' package which employs" spaced inner andouter containers with provision for a heating or cooling medium" inth'e' space to'assistin maintaining the -desired temperature for the contents of thepackagee- Otherobjects andadvantages of m -'invention will appear from the followingspecification and accompanying drawings, and i the? novel features; thereof will beparticularly pointed outimtheannexe'd claims? Ii'rtlie drawings; Eigure :1 v is: aiplan view' of: improved package utilizing my improved spacer; employed to spaceinner androuteracartonsa Eig- 3 ure 2 is a cross section in elevation taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a plan view of the blank from which my improved spacer is formed. Figure 4 is a perspective of one of my improved spacers set up for use. Figure 5 is a perspective of my improved spacer partly in section and partly broken down. Figure 6 is a perspective, partly in section, of an outer container employed to house a plurality of inner containers spaced from each other and from the outer container by my improved spacer. Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates a fiat sheet or blank of cardboard, paperboard, or other suitable fibrous material having the requisite strength and stiffness. The blank A is divided into a series of sections by transverse crease lines I, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The end sections of the blank are slit longitudinally at 6, I, to form arms or upper flaps 8, 9, and legs or lower flaps [0, II. The central portion of sections I2, I3, is slit longitudinally along a line I4, to provide an upper panel or strap [5, foldable centrally thereof along transverse crease line 3, and at its ends, along transverse crease lines I6, I'I. As will be seen from Figures 4 and 5, the blank of Figure 3 is foldable to form a filler or support. In setting up this filler or support, sections l8, I9 are folded rearwardly along crease lines 2 and 4 to form one pair of adjacent sides, and the sections I2, I3, are folded outwardly along the lower part of crease line 3, to form the other pair of adjacent sides. In this latter operation, the ends of panel I5 are folded forwardly towards each other along crease lines I6, l1, and the upper part of crease line 3 to provide a rearwardly extending strap or panel. Leg or flap II, is folded inwardly along crease line 5, until it engages the blank A at or near crease line 3, and at the same time, arm or upper flap 9, is folded inwardly until it engages the blank A at or near the crease line 11. At or almost simultaneously with this same operation, leg I0 may be folded inwardly until it engages crease line 3 and substantially coincides with and overlaps leg ll. Likewise, arm 8 folds inwardly until it engages crease line l6. While this is a convenient procedure for setting up this filler,

spacer or support, it is recognized that other ways may also be conveniently employed.

When the spacer is thus set up, it forms a substantially square structure with the ends of the legs I0, II, serving to reinforce the lower part of the crease line 3, where it is bent to define the sides I2, I3, and the ends of the arms 8, 9, serving to reinforce the crease lines [6, I1, respectively, where the panel is formed. The legs III, II, and the arms 8, 9, serve to provide spacing elements to maintain the various portions of the filler in their proper positions and to stifien and strengthen the filler as a whole. At the same time, they permit the structure to yield and to change shape sufficiently to accommodate the filler or spacer in the space between the inner and outer cartons, and provide a close and proper fit with the cartons with which they are associated.

The relation of the spacers or fillers to the package, is best disclosed in Figures 1, 2, and 6. The package of Figures 1 and 2 conptemplates only a single inner and a single outer container spaced apart by fillers, While Figure 6 contemplates a single outer container and a plurality of inner containers spaced from each other and from the outer container by a series of spacers or fillers.

In general, where only a single inner container is to be spaced from the outer container, a series of eight spacers are employed, providing a spacer at each of the eight corners of the inner and outer containers. They serve to completely fill the space between the containers at those points and function to maintain the desired spacing. It will be noted that the upper spacers engage the top of the inner container 20 through the inner edges of the sides [2, I3, and along the inner edges of the legs I0, II. The lower spacers engage the bottom of the inner container 20 through the same partions of the spacer A. The weight of the load of the inner container is thus applied to the spacer through the edges of the sides I2, I3 and the edges of the legs I0, II. This places the load on the strongest portions of these elements, since this flat material will support and withstand a much greater load applied to its edges than that applied to the flat surfaces. This construction also reduces the area of contact and takes advantage of the higher insulating qualities of this thin material, minimum contact surface, and long path across the open gap or space between containers. The use of the legs II], II, as well as the sides l2, I3, as supports, distributes the load over a greater area and provides a stronger filler. The straps or panels I5, will ordinarily receive only side or end thrusts and although they present a considerably greater surface to the inner container, they do not ordinarily engage the inner container throughout their entire length, and, therefore, present a relatively long path from the inner to the outer container, thereby preserving a relatively high degree of insulation, while preventing any appreciable relative endwise or sidewise movement of the containers. While, for purposes of convenience and clarity, the spacers or fillers are shown as engaging only a small portion of the bottom or top of the inner container, it will be understood that with heavier loads, they may extend to almost the center of the bottom or top of the inner conainer and may cover a very considerable part of these areas, preventin any tendency of the bottom or top of the inner container to sag or become ruptured due to heavy load or lack of support. Also, the fillers may be made rectangular, as well as square configuration when necessary or desired.

When in position, it will be further noted that the sides I8, I9, engage the inner faces of the side or end walls of the outer container at the corners, and that the outer edges of the sides I2, I3, I8 and I9, as well as the outer edges of the legs III, II, rest on the bottom or the top of the outer container and distribute the load from the inner container over a considerable area, and through the edges of these elements, which are the strongest portions of the fiat material from which they are made.

If desired, a plurality of inner containers may be inserted in the outer container. Figure 6 shows one of such containers located in an outer container 22, having side and end flaps 23, 24, foldable to form a top. Another or others may be set adjacent to the free sides and ends of inner container 20, and like spacers A may be employed to space the inner containers from each other and from the outer container.

It will be understood that perishables or other materials or articles sensitive to temperature changes, may be inserted in the inner container, and that container closed. The inner container may be inserted into the outer container through its top with appropriate spacers A disposed about eg scasze the eight corners of the inner container. When this assemblyis complete, the top. of 'the "outer container may be closed against the top spacers andthepackage completed.

The inner and outer containers are preferably made from paperboard, cardboard or other fibrous material, molded or formed into flat stock and folded to container configuration. It is also preferred that both inner and outer containers be closed and substantially sealed.

If desired, dry ice or other cooling or heating media may be inserted inthe' space between the inner and outer containers to supplement the insulating qualities of the'package in preserving the contents thereof.- ing media are used, they should be placed in the space between the tops of the inner and outer containers in order to permit the cold air to flow downwardly. Where a heating medium is employed, the reverse is true, and that should be placed between the bottoms of the inner and outer containers, so that the heat may rise. These additional media will serve as a temperature control and would preferably be employed on long shipments or where the contents of the employing the spacers or fillers disclosed herein,

without departing from the spirit of this invention.

While the foregoing package has been primarily directed towards the storage or shipment of perishables, it will be understood that in lieu of the air space between the inner and outer containers, insulating material may be packed therein instead. Furthermore, the package is not limited to the shipment of perishables, but may be employed to ship furniture, breakables or other merchandise by simply substituting the merchandise in question for the inner container. For example, the portions of a table may be supported in spaced relation to a container by the interposition of the spacer disclosed herein between the table or other object and the container.

While the present description sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, and is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A package of the character described comprising a container, a body disposed within said container, and means for supporting said body in spaced relation to said container, said means including a spacer made from a single blank 0f foldable material to form two pairs of adjacent sides, a panel struck from the upper portion of one of said pairs of adjacent sides and bendable inwardly to provide a strap for engagement with said body to limit sidewise and endwise movement thereof, a pair of lower flaps joined to the meeting edges of the other pair of adjacent sides to reinforce it, and a pair of upper fiaps joined to the meeting edges of the other pair of adjacent sides for engagement with the junctures of said panel with the first set of adjacent sides, the edges of the cut away sides cooperating with the edges of the lower flaps to support said body.

Where dryice-or other cool- 2-. package of" the character described comprising a container, a-body'within said container, and a' spacer interposed between said container and body, said spacer being madeifrom' a single blank of material foldable to provi'dea body'pontion of substantially rectangular configuration with pairs of adja'cent sides, a panel struck? from the upper intermediateportions of onepair of sides, said panel folded inwardly to provide a strap for engagement with the body to limit-its sidewise and endwise movements, lower'flap's joined to the meeting edges of th other pair of sides and foldable inwardly to provide reinforce ment for the juncture of the said first-pair of sides, the edges of the cut away portions of said first pair of sides engaging the body and serving to support it in spaced relation to the outer container.

3. A package of the character described comprising an outer container, an inner container disposed within said outer container, and a spacer interposed between said inner and outer containers, said spacer being formed from a single blank of material foldable to form a body having pairs of adjacent sides, a panel struck from the upper intermediat portions of one of said pairs of sides and foldable inwardly to define a strap for engagement with said inner container to limit endwise and sidewise movement thereof, upper and lower flaps joined to the meeting edges of the other pair of said sides, said upper flaps being foldable inwardly to reinforce the junctures of the panel and sides, said lower flaps being foldable inwardly to reinforce the juncture of the first of said pairs of sides, said lower flaps and the cut away portions of the first pair of said sides being engageable with the inner container through their edges to support said inner container in spaced relation to said outer container.

4. A tri-directional spacing element formed of foldable material, comprising a plurality of walls including a pair of angularly related connected walls having portions adjacent their connected ends of less transverse extent than the portions adjacent their remote ends, a strap connected at each end to the wall portions of greater extent and bent inwardly of the angle between said pair of walls, a third of said plurality of walls extending partially across the angle between said pair of walls, a bracing flap hinged on said third wall and extending to a connection between said strap and pair of walls, and a reinforcing flap also hinged on said third wall and extending to the connection between said pair of walls.

5. A blank for a spacing element, comprising a sheet of foldable material cut and scored to define a plurality of serially connected wall panels including a pair of hingedly connected panels of greater extent adjacent their remote ends than adjacent their connected ends and a third panel hingedly connected to one of said pair of panels, a strap extending between and hingedly connected at its ends to the portions of greater extent of said panel pair and defined from the portions of lesser extent thereof by a slot, and a flap hingedly connected to said third panel, said flap lying between lines of extension of the edges of said portions of lesser extent of said panel pair and having a length corresponding to that of the hypoteneuse of a right triangle the other two sides of which have lengths corresponding to the lengths of the panels of said panel pair.

6. A blank for a spacing element, comprising a sheet of foldable material cut and scored to define a plurality of serially connected wall panels including a pair of hingedly connected panels of greater extent adjacent their remote ends than adjacent their connected ends and a third panel hingedly connected to one of said pair of panels, a strap extending between and hingedly connected at its ends to the portions of greater extent of said panel pair and defined from the portions of lesser extent thereof by a slot, and a flap hingedly connected to said third panel, said flap lying at least partially between lines of extension .of the edges of said portions of greater extent and having a triangle the other two sides of which have lengths corresponding to the distances from the connection between said third panel and said one panel of said panel pair, respectively to the adja- 15 2,013,346

cent end of said strap, and to the connection be tween said flap and said third panel.

LEWIS C. PENNEBAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,713,548 Oppenhelm May 21, 1929 1,821,692 Copeland Sept. 1, 1931 1,985,075 Bird Dec. 18, 1934 Gomes Sept. 3, 1935 

